Breeder&#39;s cage.



T..H. KNAAK. BREEDER'S GAGE. MPL10-nom FILED m3. s, 1909.

Patented July 20, 1909.

' T. H. KNAAK. v

BREBDBR'S UAGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. 8, 1909.

928,463. Y Patented July 2o, 1909.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE H. KNAAK, Ol? COLERIDGE, NEBRASKA.

BREEDERS CAG-E.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Timononn H. KNAAK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coleridge, in the county of Cedar and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Breeders Cage, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to cages for use by breeders of line stock such as swine, and particularly to that class in which provision is made for the adjustment of certain parts in breeding between relatively large and small animals to facilitate the `crossing of breeds of different sizes. Here tofore in cages of this class, it has been customary to elevate or depress the sire relatively to the dam, but experience has demonstrated that this procedure is not calculated to secure the best results, and is often conducive to failure, for the reason that it frequently happens that the sire becomes frightened when he feels the platform, on which he is standing, moving up or down, and will positively refuse to perform his duty. i

It is the object of the present invention, in a ready, simple and practical manner, to insure proper positioning of the sire and dam relatively to each other, and without cla-nger of frightening the former or exciting and rendering fractions the latter, and also to secure the positive holding of the dam against struggling in a way that will not inflict pain or injury, and also will prevent her escape from the cage.

lith the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the inven tion is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a breeders cage, as will hereinafter be fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a breeders cage constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the cage. Fig. 4t is a. view in elevation taken from a rear end of the apparatus.

The cage comprises a base, consisting of two longitudinal beams 1 and 2, two transverse beams 4 and 5 secured to the end beams 1 and 2, and a third transverse beam 6 mortised into the lower edges of the latter Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 8, 1909.

Patented. July 20, 1909.

Serial No. 482,048.

beams intermediate of their ends, and constituting a stop to limit the downward movement of the floor 7, which latter is hinged at its forward end, as at 8, to the transverse beam a, as elearljT seen in Fig.

Secured to cach of the beams 1 and 2 are three posts or uprights 9, 1() and 11, the two series being arranged in transverse alinement, and two of the pairs being connected and stayed by braces 12 and 13, the former being secured to the outer faces of the upright 9, and the latter to the upper end of the upright 10. Each series of posts has secured to its inner side, in this instance, three slats or bars 111-, 15 and 1G, the four slats 14 and 15 being straight throughout and the two slats 16 having their rear portions inclined, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The transverse beam 5 has detachably connected with it a platform 17 upon which the sire will stand, as usual.

The cage frame above generally described, will be found well adapted for the use designed, but may be otherwise constructed if found advantageous or desirable.

The novelty of the present invention resides in the means for adjusting the dam relatively to the sire, in the novel form of head board, and in the novel form of foot boards.

As above stated, the floor 7 is hinged at its forward end, and has secured adjacent to its rear end, and oirits under side, a bar 18 which is held in position for swinging movement by keepers 19. The ends of the bar are bent at right angles to the plane of the floor at 20, and then outward in opposite directions, and substantially parallel with the floor to provide two arms 21 that'terminate in eyes 22, the arms being extended through vertical slots 23 formed in the uprights 11.

Secured in each of the eyes 21 is one end of f a rope or chain 24, each of which passes around a grooved sheave 25 supported byA the uprights 11 and is secured at its other end to a drum or shaft 26 journaled in the upright 9. This shaft carries a crank 27 by which it is turned, and a ratchet wheel 28 engaged by a pawl 29 pivotcd to the adjacent slat 16, by which it is locked against rotation.

The headboard 30 extends through a slot in a cross-piece 31 and is provided with a stop 32 to hold it against accidental disconncction therefrom. The ends of the cross piece work in grooves or guides 33 in the opposed faces of the slats 16, and the crosspiece is enough shorter than the distance be` tween the inner walls of the guides to permit it to be disconnected therefrom by a twisting movement. To hold the cross-piece in adjusted position, pins 34 are provided, that are designed to engage with series of oritices extending vertically through the slat 15 and intersecting the guides. The lower end of the headboard is provided with a vertically disposed slot 35 constituting a snoutreceiving opening, and on each side of the snout opening with vertical slots or kerfs 36 that are designed to receive keepers 37 secured longitudinally of the floor and in parallelism. These keepers are L-shaped in cross-section, and the vertical web of each is provided with a plurality of spaced oriiices 88 to be engaged by the bills of a pair of hooks 39 (one only being shown) carried by the headboard. Each of the footboard consists of two members -lO and el pivotally connected by two pairs of links 42, to permit the inner members 41 to move to and from the members 42, which are rigidly but detachably secured to the inner walls of the cage body.

As a means for holding the dam securely between the footboards, a stop 43 is provided, the ends of which are detachably connected with eyes 44 formed in the upper ends of a pair of rods 45, which pass through slots in the footboard members 4l, and are formed at their lower ends into loops 4:7 that engage screw-eyes 4S secured to the floor. In order to prevent the dam from struggling with her head, a yoke 49 is provided which is secured to the rear side of the headboard by brackets 50, of which there are four employed. This yoke reaches to the dams shoulders and therefore will prevent it from withdrawing its head. As usual, there is a gate 5l provided, which is approximately IVI-shaped in form, and is provided with two out-turned pintles 52 that are journaled in keepers 53 carried by blocks 54 secured to the floor. This gate has secured to it one end of a pole 55, the other end of which is provided with a notch 56 designed to interlock with the upper edge-of the beam 4. This pole is provided to operate the gate, and also to prevent the dam, if frightened, from sitting on the floor.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the device of this invention although simple in construction, will' be found thoroughly etlicient for the purpose that is designed, and that its parts will cooperate in the production of a highly useful, and thoroughly effective cage for breeders purposes.

VJ hat is claimed is l. In a breeders cage, a longitudinally adjustable head-board having kerfs in its lower edge, keepers rising from the floor of the cage, and extending into the kerfs, said keepers having a series of orifices, and hooks car ried by the head-board, and engageable with said orices.

2. In a breeders cage, a head-board, sideboards linked to the side walls of the cage, and having longitudinal slots, rods loosely connected to the Hoor of the cage, and rising therefrom, through the aforesaid slots, and a yoke connected to the ends of the rods.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE H. KNAAK. Witnesses F. S. HIRSCHMAN, Guo. XV. LEAPLEY. 

